Goodwillie recently signed a contract to keep him at Tannadice until May 2013

David Goodwillie can leave Tannadice, but it will take a couple of million pounds for any club to get him, says Dundee United manager Peter Houston.

Rangers were linked with Goodwillie in January and Houston says they can have the player, if the cash is right.

"Let's be honest, we need money and if the Rangers takeover goes ahead and Rangers are interested in Goodwillie, let them come," said Houston.

Goodwillie recently agreed a contract extension at United until May 2013.

"I laugh at all the newspaper reports about all these teams that are going to buy our players," said Houston.

"It happened last summer as well.

"Let me tell you, no team has been in for any of our players.

"I'll be honest and tell you that if Rangers get a big transfer chest and Coisty [Ally McCoist] wants to spend a couple of million on Goodwillie, let him chap the door because he'll be sold.

"I know that, I'm not silly enough to not know that."

If he can score 18 or 20 goals for United, what can he score for Rangers or Celtic or big clubs down south?

Peter Houston on United striker David Goodwillie

Goodwillie has been with United since he was 14 and made his first team debut at the end of 2005.

He has scored 16 goals in the Scottish Premier League this season, five fewer than top scorer Kenny Miller, now at Bursaspor.

With Houston accepting that midfielders Craig Conway, Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis will be leaving Tannadice in the summer, he is no mood to see his prize asset following them out the door without suitable compensation.

The manager said: "The good thing is that David has extended his contract by another year and teams will have to pay the money that the United chairman and board of directors think is good enough.

"Look at some of the players that have moved to the Old Firm in the past: they certainly go for £1.5m here and £2m there. I certainly think that Goodwillie is going to be a future international.

"It'll take a bit to get Goodwillie moved, but, at the end of the day, if he can score 18 or 20 goals for United, what can he score for Rangers or Celtic or big clubs down south?"